Burgers, Bourbon and Beer gets straight to the point with its declarative title, but the New Orleans benefit party and cooking contest holds plenty of surprises. Now in its third year, the Aug. 24 fundraiser for Second Harvest Food Bank has emerged as a creative challenge for some of the city's best-regarded burger purveyors.

Where else, for example, can one sample the following: a patty composed of beef and chorizo topped with melted Chihuahua cheese, shredded cabbage, crispy tortilla chips, Valentina hot sauce and guacamole mayo?

Some chefs will spin variations that involve such non-traditional elements as alligator, shrimp and venison.

And don't worry: There will be plenty of traditional burgers, too.

Twelve restaurants are participating, and some are expected to offer more than one kind of burger, said Terri Kaupp, spokesperson for the Second Harvest Food Bank. The full menu hasn't been set, making this party more like a browse through each chef's daily specials.

"For the chefs and their teams it's a chance to get away from the restrictions of their restaurant menus," Kaupp said. "They like the competitive aspect of this event. The effort to create interesting pairings with the beer and bourbon also brings out their best."

The drinks look beyond the traditional, too. One restaurant will offer a bourbon snowball. Another plans to serve a coffee milkshake spiked with bourbon. Craft cocktails and tasting portions of straight bourbon will accompany sliders at other tables.

Abita Beer, which signed on as a sponsor of this year's Second Harvest fundraiser, is working with the chefs to create beer pairings. (The brewer did something similar this past June as a sponsor of the much-praised Creole Tomato Festival gala at the French Market.)

Kaupp said the mood at Burgers, Bourbon and Beer is pretty casual, with guests grazing amid the competitor's tables, comparing notes, and sometimes returning for second helpings.

"Visitors can sample as much as they want, but I advise bringing a friend to share these sliders," Kaupp said. "It's almost impossible to eat a sample from all 12 tables – at least that's what our jurors told us in previous years. These hamburgers will be rich and delicious."

"One of the fun parts of Bourbon, Burgers and Beer is watching the teams cook and assemble the burgers in the outdoor cooking area," Kaupp said. "You walk right past them to get to the door – and the aromas are heavenly. You can smell this party from blocks away."

In 2013, The Company Burger swept the competition. The Freret Street eatery won both the "Best Burger" award presented by the jurors and the "People's Choice" award that was determined by popular vote among diners.

If you attend Bourbon, Burgers and Beer, expect lots of fellow voters. The event sold out in 2013. This year the party has moved to a larger space at Generations Hall, 310 Andrew Higgins Dr., and has added about 100 extra tickets to accommodate fans.

Burgers, Bourbon and Beer

What: A benefit for Second Harvest Food Bank that pairs specialty drinks and beers with creative burgers from 12 area restaurants.

When: Aug. 24, 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. (VIP admission 4 p.m.)

Where: Generations Hall, 310 Andrew Higgins Dr.

Admission: VIP tickets, which include early admission (4 p.m. entry) and a complimentary raffle ticket are $75 in advance; general admission tickets are $45 in advance (4:30 p.m. entrance.) The event has sold out the last two years, however if available, VIP tickets and general admission tickets at the door will be $90 and $50, respectively. Tickets can be purchased online at www.no-hunger.org or in person at Second Harvest Food Bank, 700 Edwards Ave.